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General Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
4.5
Heart the Lover by Lily King READ VIA: Spotify audio ABOUT: Beginning in their senior year of college, we follow Jordan through her relationships with roommates Sam and Yash. She is drawn into their world of drinking games, quoting classic lit, dating, and blurry relationship lines.When they return to her life nearly 20 years later to see her reunification with Sam and Yash, the fallout of their youthful folly, and wow, does that second half hurt. MY THOUGHTS: This is one of those sneaky, literary fic books where things begin to creep up on you slowly, and suddenly you’re sobbing.The beginning, I admit, felt slow but also nostalgic, with the carefree, chaotic lifestyle only found on college campuses.I found Jordan’s relationship with Sam and Yash both fascinating. In the way they differ, and in the way she seemed to hold herself back (for different reasons), with both.The chapters involving adulthood were absolutely stunning, and I think they will resonate with anyone who has lost a cherished friendship.The writing was wonderfully descriptive and introspective, and I couldn’t help but find pieces of myself in Jordan. AUDIO: In just under six hours, Rebecca Lowman drives the emotional impact of the story home in a mesmerizing performance. SIMILAR BOOKS: This is the companion work to her book Writers & Lovers (which I haven’t read), but I have added it to my TBR. SHOULD YOU READ: If you’re looking for a book that will leave you feeling vulnerable and reflecting on relationships, I can’t recommend this one enough.
Romance
Latest Book Reviews
4
READ VIA: Thank you Avon for the #gifted physical copy and Harper Audio for the audiobook book ABOUT: When Brooke Murphy, a romance author currently suffering from writer’s block, finds her muse on the pickleball court, she enlists Owen Miller to teach her the game. Though her initial motivation is to impress her crush with her pickleball skills, Brooke slowly finds an inner athleticism and love of pickleball she never expected. She might also find that she develops a crush on her green-flag instructor. MY THOUGHTS: This was really fun! Friends-to-lovers with a touch of fake dating and a bit of him being a wingman, there was a lot to enjoy here. I really enjoyed the coach/learner vibes, and Brooke had great growth! I loved that Owen saw her greatness all along and slowly helped bring it out of her. I really enjoyed her and Owen’s will-they-or-won’t-they vibe and the little moments of romantic tension. It was clear he was a goner, and I liked that both of them were trying to protect their feelings. I also felt Owen’s backstory was well done, with just enough detail to make his motivation easy to understand (even if I wanted a little more about him). I just had a lot of fun reading this, and I found myself wanting to pick it up constantly! Excellent pacing, tension, and an ending that made me proud of all the characters! AUDIO: Patti Murrin’s narration was wonderful. There was great variation in her voice and definitely made me enjoy the story well! SIMILAR BOOKS: For another pickleball-inspired romance, check out All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball! SHOULD YOU READ: This was a solid sports-themed romance that I think many will find enjoyable!
Romance
Latest Book Reviews
4.5
READ VIA: #gifted NetGalley ARC, thank you Cara Calloway I ended up preordering the book before I finished it!ABOUT: Winona “Winnie” Jean finds herself attending a paranormal investigation with her younger brother when he leaves to go help a friend. Suddenly, she is alone in a supposedly haunted penitentiary. When the last person she ever expected to see, Charlie, shows up to photograph storms from one of the towers.As the night evolves, they attempt to unravel the truth behind a former inmate’s conviction, as well as the real reason their relationship fell apart.Ps. He has glasses and a gold chain 😍😍😍MY THOUGHTS: This one was so good! Second chance with dual timelines that add to the character’s connection, a little bit of a mystery surrounding a ghost, and compulsive writing that had me excited to pick up my Kindle! There was forced proximity, friends to lovers to nothing vibes, and second chance! Calloway’s writing is descriptive and well-paced, with complex, fully developed characters. While single POV, I loved that I knew exactly what Charlie was thinking because he communicated! And he WANTED HER!And yes, Winona did run in the past. But the way she antagonizes over that previous choice and has obviously done the work to try to heal herself was so perfectly written. You cannot help but root for her and Charlie from the opening scenes.While a haunting mystery unfolded in the background, I appreciated that it served as a device for Charlie and Winnie to work together, and it also kept me engaged. SIMILAR BOOKS: A little bit of The Co-op with a little bit of suspense thrown inSHOULD YOU READ: If you like a little paranormal with a side of golden retriever yearning, then pick this one up!
Fantasy, Young Adult
Latest Book Reviews
4
READ VIA: Thank you so much to Little Brown Books and Hachette Audio for the advanced copies. Out now! ABOUT: A lowly orphan village has found herself trapped in her aunt’s household as a fortune teller. When fortuitous circumstances (including a magical talking carp) lead her to a ball at the palace, she is thrust into the royal spotlight and under the Prince of the Iron Mountains’ eye. But under all the wealth and beauty, something evil festers. And Yining finds herself torn between the prince, the advisor to a rival kingdom, and her own intuition. MY THOUGHTS: This was a very lyrical, ethereal feeling, a fantasy with easy world-building. I felt that for most of the book, it was light on the adventure, revelations, and intrigue I had been expecting, and then the last 40% was full of them. Pitched as a Cinderella retelling meets Chinese folklore (in that it is rags-to-riches vibes), there was so much more depth to Yining than just her background. I particularly enjoyed the way the botanicals played such an essential role in both the magical elements of and the storytelling. The writing is so descriptive, making the reading fully immersive, especially on audio! At times, the FMC felt a bit indecisive and unsure, but that felt intentional on the author’s part, as she had thrust Yining into a world she knew nothing about. I loved the dynamics of the “love triangle,” where Yining had to navigate whom to trust and find her own voice among those who asked so much of her. This is a duology, and the ending left me excited to see how all the relationships evolve. AUDIO: I found the narration quite enjoyable and felt it enhanced my experience! The world-building was easy to understand, and I didn’t feel I needed to reference the book while listening. Natlie Naudus did an excellent job of bringing all of the characters to life. SIMILAR BOOKS: I am not sure I have good comp as many are her books and this was my first “low stakes” fantasy. SHOULD YOU READ: I recommend it for those looking for cozy, high-reward, beautiful fantasy.
Non-Fiction
Latest Book Reviews
5
READ VIA: Libby audioABOUT: At nine years old, Javier travels from El Salvador to the USA in hopes of reconnecting with his parents. We find a story of love, the resilience of the human spirit, and the tribulations migrants face, in what is perhaps one of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. MY THOUGHTS: Javier and I were born in the same year to entirely different fates. I like Javier began attending college in 2008, and learned about the Dreamers, or undocumented children, and the numerous hurdles they faced—sheer luck preventing me from being in a similar position. This was a highly emotional read for me. as an empath, I couldn’t help but feel anxiety and sadness over the current state of migrant policies in the US..Javier’s writing is both gripping and compulsive as he details his convoluted journey to the United States. I couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by both the multitude of steps in his journeys and the numerous setbacks.The writing is poetic, intricate, and incredibly honest. I loved the moments when we saw the innocence of being nine years old emerge; the humor helped balance the depth of his writing. It is difficult to imagine what he experienced as a child. The blind trust his family had to put in others brought me to tears, in addition to Javier’s overwhelmingly positive attitude, despite each challenge. What stood out to me was the innumerable people who offered kindness to migrants along their journey, from the adults who looked after him when he was alone, to those providing shelter, to those selling food.This book serves as a poignant reminder that every individual deserves dignity and respect, regardless of their background or circumstances. I will be thinking Javier for a long time. AUDIO: Narrated by the author himself, the audio is emotional, captivating, and a clear depiction of Javier‘s migrant journeySIMILAR BOOKS: After reading this, I have added The Distance Between Us to my TBR. SHOULD YOU READ This is an absolutely stunning memoir and a must-read book for anyone who wants to be aware of how US policy impacts innocents.
Romance
Latest Book Reviews
5
READ VIA: Thank you to Harper Audio for the listening, copy, and Avon for the e-arc ABOUT: Following her third and final embryo transfer to her surrogate, Nicole comes home to find her husband unfaithful and her life unraveling. On the brink of motherhood, which she desperately desires, Nicole reckons with the idea that she has made herself so small that she no longer knows who she is. Enter Logan, her coworker with whom friendship always felt effortless. Nicole and Logan explore whether something could be between them and what that means for Nicole and her relationship with her husband, Gabe, and her soon-to-be role as a mother. MY THOUGHTS: Oh, how I was captivated by this book. The writing is delicate and descriptive, handling complex themes with ease. I particularly enjoyed the dynamic between Nicole and her surrogate, Valerie. This relationship really helped the reader understand Nicole and the theme of what “makes” a mother. The prose is nuanced and the themes are layered, making for a magnificent reading experience. The relationship between Nicole and Logan was absurdly complicated yet filled with exquisite longing, top-notch banter, and will-they-or-won’t-they tension that had me on edge the whole book. This debut is thoughtful and emotional, full of complex characters, dynamic relationships, and an astute approach to becoming a mother. AUDIO: Kristen Sieh gives a standout performance. She effortlessly highlights the passionate writing in this book. Her voice constantly pulled me into the story, and her male voices are so easy to listen to. It was an incredible experience on audio! I highly recommend it! SIMILAR BOOKS: It’s a dreamy mix of Ready or Not (the process of becoming a mother, green flag MMC) and How to End a Love Story (yearning, struggle to express her feelings, and an almost insurmountable conflict). SHOULD YOU READ: I absolutely love this debut and recommend it for all lovers of an angsty, thoughtful romance. I would recommend reading the CW first. One of top books of the year!